Opening Day at the County Fair

I made it to the fairgrounds early to open up this morning.  It was a beautiful morning, mid-70's F and sunny.  It's kinda quiet when nothing is opened up yet, but there is a buzz of exhibitors setting up and getting last minute things in place.

I've never been there for the opening ceremonies before.  It was nice to see all the veterans there for the flag raising.  Even though I knew these gentlemen were there, I still jumped when they fired those guns in the air.

I think I could've tasted something from about every food vendor there - but I refrained.  I only had 2 things :)  Besides.  I'm working again on Saturday.  Another opportunity.  Dole Whip.  Poutine.  Fries.  Nothing healthy.

I love seeing all the kiddos.  Is this little guy adorable or what?

Horse and sheep judging was going on during the morning.  If I hadn't had to be in my own booth, I would have loved to have gotten some pictures of the judging rings.  Love the cowboy boots with shorts - quite popular attire.

And I was able to sneak over to the Creative Arts building for a peek at the tatting.  I was so happy to see that there were more entries than in the past.  Still only a few, but tatting is alive and well!  

And I was especially happy to see that I not only got a blue ribbon for my doily, but the purple Sweepstakes (judge's choice) as well! That means a lot - it's given for an outstanding entry, strictly an optional ribbon for the judges to award.  

I also entered this Flowering Quatrain Bookmark in the "Other Tatted Articles" class.  Yay!  Thanks to Frivole for a beautiful pattern.

Maybe I should start now on next year's entries so I don't have to tat a marathon again!  

Tatting Marathon to the Finish :)

It's complete!  The Jan Stawasz Doily XI is finally done.  Whew. Just in time to enter it into the county fair. 

I worked on Round 11 while on vacation this week waaaaaay up in northern Minnesota on the Canadian border.  I am a slow tatter, so Round 11 took me several hours. Good thing I was on vacation and able to do whatever I wanted!  I believe I cheered when this round was done, knowing I just had ONE MORE ROUND to completion.

Jan Stawasz Doily XI - Round 11

I thought that "one more round" would take me forever, and I realized I only had a few days until I would have to submit it for the county fair.  I had in my mind that I would enter it IF I could get Round 12 done, but if I didn't finish it wouldn't be the end of the world.  But being this close to done made me really want it done for the fair. (I don't know why it's so fun to get a ribbon, but it is.  Some kind of recognition along with keeping the class available is the reward.) A marathon.  Others run marathons.  I tat them :)

At one point I even timed myself to see how long just one repeat of the final round would take.  15 minutes for ONE repeat.  Yikes! That meant I had about 7 hours of work left to finish the 12th and final round.  I don't think I should do this in the future - too much pressure!  I tatted in the car.  I tatted in the living room. I tatted in my woman cave.  I tatted at a craft-fair.  I actually got pretty good at tatting while talking - only a few un-tats . . .

Ta Da!

I forgot to measure the doily before I brought it to the fairgrounds, but I think it's about 15" across.  I finished rounds 11 and 12 with the Lizbeth Latte Foam to match the center, and I am happy with that choice.  I considered using some darker brown for one round, but I like the neutrality of the variegated ecru.  It certainly doesn't show up well in photos on the black foam board I used for a fair display - I wish I had used a tan background.  It's visible in person, anyway.

Tuesday I will work a fair booth (for work) and I will be able to sneak away for a few minutes to see how I did . . .

"Done!" she said . . .

"Easy round," she said.
"Taking forever," she said.
"Woo hoo!  Finally done with that round!" she said.

 

 

"Wait! What did I do?" she said.

"What the . . . did I? . . . I did."  she said.

"I made an extra chain at the veeerrrrryyyy end of that round." she said.

"Maybe it won't show.  Much."  she said.

"@#$#$!$#@$#$!!!!!!!" she said.

"Fine.  I'll CUT it and fix it.  Tonite."  she said.



Jan Stawasz Doily XI - Round 10

Still slow going, but I've almost got Round 10 done.  

Jan Stawasz Doily XI - Round 10

While working these endless rounds of simple repeats, I found myself counting to the called for 17 ds, and then daydreaming into 18 . . . 19 . . . 20 . . . oops!  Dang.  Un-tat.  There is a difference in having a good rhythm and getting into the rhythm a little too much! 

I'm looking forward to the last two rounds - they are a repeat of rounds 2 and 3, and will be a pretty finish to this doily.   I am committed to finishing this beauty before I start ANYTHING else :)

In the meantime, we are enjoying a few things from the garden.  Well, OK, pretty much only basil and cilantro so far.  Tomatoes aren't doing much, but I will buy them for my favorite summertime side salad.  Caprese salad - sliced tomatoes, fresh mozzarella and fresh basil with a little balsamic vinegar reduction drizzled on top.  Mmmmm.

I could eat this for breakfast!  [Ok, sometimes I DO have tomato and mozzarella with basil on toast.]

The basil is growing well, however, I think I'm giving up on gardening for this year.  Today when I checked on my green beans, I found that SOMEONE had a great snack overnight.  So much for green beans this year.  X!#$#%%!$#$#!!!